Yesodey Hatorah Girls Protest At William Shakespeare’s Anti-Semitism
WAS William Sahlespear anti-semitic. Nine girls at the Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School in Stamford Hill, north London, refused to answer questions on Shakespeare because they believe he was anti-Semitic.
As a result the school’s ranking has fallen from first to 274th in this year’s table measuring the progress of pupils between the ages of 11 and 14.
Head teacher Rabbi Abraham Pinter says*: “I think this is very positive. I’m really proud that our kids are prepared to take the consequences of their convictions and I think it is something that needs to be encouraged.”
Says the Telegraph: “The view of Shakespeare as anti-Semitic stems from his portrayal of the money lender Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.”
Writes Daniel Hannan:
It’s a delicate question but, on balance, I’m with the pupils at Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School. Shylock, precisely because of the depth of his character, precisely because his motives are made comprehensible, is the most dangerous archetype of the malevolent Jew ever created. He’s not just a nasty piece of work; he possesses the character traits that anti-Semites have projected onto Jews down the ages. He is greedy, legalistic, clever and lacking in compassion: a schemer who secretly loathes the Christians he lends money to.
How would the audience at the time have viewed him?
* Another headmaster who doesn’t give a toss for league tables and encourages his pupils to make a stand…
Posted: 2nd, March 2008 | In: Broadsheets Comments (7) | TrackBack | Permalink
